Releasing and loss-preventing means for cradle-packings.



Patented Apr. 8,1919.

H. N. JANSEN. RELEASING ANDjLOSS PREVENTING MEANS FOR CRADLE PACKINGS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l2\ 1919.

H. N. IANSEN.

RELEASING. AND LOSS PREVENTING MEANS FOR CRADLE PACKINGS. APPLICATIONFILED FEB. I2'. I9I9.

1 ,299,95 14. Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

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H. N. JANSEN.

RELEASING AND Loss PREVENTING MEANS FOR CRADLE PACK|NGS.

APPLICAUON FILED FEB. `l2. |919. V 1,299,951 Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

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HARRY N. JANSEN, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

RELEASING AND LOSSPREVENTING MEANS FOR CRADLE-PACKINGS.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application led February 12, 1919. Serial No. 276,636.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY N. JANSEN, a'citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essexand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Releasing and Loss-Preventing Means for Cradle-Packings;and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it .appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification. l

The invention relates, generally, to improvements in shipbuilding; and,the present invention has reference, more particullarly, to a novelmeans for releasing and preventing the loss of cradle-packings when theship-body leaves the ways and strikes the water.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object toprovide anovel and automatically operating means or mechanism whichcoperates with the water, as the ship-body leaves the ways, to releasethe supporting cradle-packings, and to prevent the loss of the same,especially when the ship-body is to be floated in shallow water, by thecradle-pa-ckings becoming stuck in the mud or other bottom of the water.Other objects of the present invention not at this time moreparticularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of the said invention.

With the various objects of the present invention in view, the saidinvention consists, primarily, in the means for releasing and preventingthe loss of cradle-packings hereinafter set forth; and, the presentinvention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements andcombinations of the various devices and parts, as Well as in the detailsof the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fullydescribed in the following specification, and then finally embodied inthe clauses of the claim which is appended to and which formsanessential part of Ithe said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is a side elevation of the stern portion of a ship-body,two members of the cradle-packing, and the xed ways upon which the saidbody and packings are disposed before launching, the said packings beingshown provided with means or mechanism for releasing and preventing theloss of the packing during the floating of the ship-body; and Fig. 2 isa rear elevation of the said devices and parts, looking toward the sternof the ship-body.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional representation of one of thecradle-packings, and the said releasing and loss-preventing means, saidsection being taken on line 3-3 in said Fig. l, and said view being madeony an enlarged scale; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line^T-4 in said Fig. 8, said view. being made on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, showing the mechanism .in itsoperated position, about to release the packing from the side ofl theship-body; and Fig. 6 is a view, similar to1 Fig. 3, also showing theparts of the mechanism in their operated positions.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said abovedescribed` views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring' now to the several figures of the drawings, thereference-character 1 indicates the usual fixed ways, such as areordinarily used in ship-yards; 2 indicates a ship-body, and 3 is a keelthereof. The reference-character 4 indicates, in general, thecradle-packings,` such as are xed against the opposite sides of theship-body, for properly propping said ship-body in position upon thewaysl, and are used with said body for sliding the latter into the waterduring the launching of the vessel.

Any desirable number of such packings may be employed according to thesize and length of the ship, as will be clearly evident.

Each cradle-packing is usually made up of a number of elements, as 5,suitably secured together in assembled relation, and

each packing has a lower member 6, commonly termed the sliding way,which is movably disposed upon the fixed ways 1. As shown in Fig. 2ofthe drawings, the ways 6 of the oppositely placed packings 4 aremovably disposed against lateral displacement between the guard-rails 7of the two main members of the fixed ways l.

Upon their outer face-portions the assembled members or elements 5 havesuitably secured thereto any suitable and, desired number of verticallydisposed bars, as 8, said bars being arranged in pairs, and being knownin the ship-building art as strongbacks. The upper marginal edge of eachpacking is suitably curved, as at 9, see Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,so as to conform to the contour of the outer surface of the ship-body,and to thereby provide a proper and staple support for said body. Eachpacking is also provided with any desired number of suitably formedopenings, as 10, according to number of pairs of strongbacks that may beemployed. Directly beneath each opening` 10, the members o-r bars 8 ofeach pair are provided with brackets or supporting members, as 11, andloosely placed upon each pairfof brackets 11, so as to be locateddirectly in front of an opening l0, is a member or bail 12, each bailbeing provided with an opening 13. Disposed in the openings 13 of thevarious bails 12 are eye-bolts of suitable lengths, the eye-boltsprovidedwith the packings upon one side of the ship-body beingdesignated by the reference-character 14, and those employed with thepackings upon the other side of the ship-body being designated by thereferencecharacter 15. as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.Connecting the eye-portions 16 and 17 of the respective'eye-bolts 14 and15 is a suitable cable or chain, as 18, or otherv suit. ble iexibleconnection. Upon the screwthreaded portions of the said eye-bolts 14,which extend beyond the openings of the j bails with which the saideye-bolts 14 are employed, are adjusting or tightening nuts 19 andwashers 20. Upon the screw-threaded portions of the eye-bolts 15, whichextend beyond the openings of the bails with which said eye-bolts 15 areemployed, are clamping devices, comprising a number of sections 21,

usually four of them, see Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, which areprovided with threadportions 22, adapted to engage the threads of theeye-bolt, when the said sections 21 are disposed in the manner of a nut,as ,shown in said figures, about the screw-threaded shank of theeye-bolt 15. Suitably disposed upon opposite sides ofthe sectional nutthus provided are a pair of plates 23and 24 having their respectiveend-portions projecting beyond the nut, as shown in the several figuresof the drawings. Thefproj-ecting ends 25 and 26 of the respective plates23 and 24 are provided with holes or perforations 27 and 28, and mountedin these holes or perforations is a bolt 29 provided upon itsscrewthreaded portion with a tightening nut 30.- The opposite projectingends 31 and 32 of the respective plates 23 and 24 are also provided withholes or perforations 33 and 34, as shown, which, however, `areinternally screw-threaded, one with a left-hand thread and the otherwith a right-hand thread. Arranged in these screw-threaded holes 33 and34 are a pair of correspondingly screwthreaded studs 35 and 36 extendingon opposite sides of a lever or arm 37 to which is secured in anysuitable manner a suitably constructed wing or paddle, as 38. At or nearits point of pivotal connection with said plates 23 and 24, the saidlever or arm 37 is provided with a projection 39, in the form of a cam,or the like, which is adapted to be brought into forcible contact orengagement with the sectional nut, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6of the drawings, and for the purposes to be presently more fully setforth.

.To prevent loss of the various cradlepackings upon the launching of theshipbody, either by said packings lioating away or by becoming stuckfast in the mud or river-bottom, each packing may be provided with aneye 40, or other suitable fixture, to which is attached an end of acable, rope, or other suitable fiexible connection, as 41, theother endof which is suitably secured to any desired part of the ship-body.Likewise, an eye 42, or other suitable fixture, may be secured to eachpacking, two cables or other flexible connections, as 43 and 44 beingattached at their one ends to said eye 42. and at their opposite ends toeyes 45 and 46, or other suitable fastening devices, with which thebails 12 and the wings or paddles are respectively provided.

Having in the foregoing described the general arrangements and'constructions of the several devices and parts which embody theprinciples of the present invention, I

will now brieiy set forth the manner of assembling and setting up thesaid-devices upon the sides of the ship-body, so that the latter can belaunched, and upon launching the said cradle-packings being immediatelyand automatically released, so that said packings may not become lost orstuck in the mud, and can be readily picked up from the sides of thefloated ship-body, at minimum expenditure of labor and cost.

After having disposed the various packings upon the ways 1 and in theirsupporting relations upon the opposite sides of the ship-body, theeye-bolts 15 are put. in place in the respective packings upon the oneside of the ship-body, so that kthe threaded end-portions of said boltswill project beyond the outer faces of the respective bails 12. lViththe cam-lever or arm 37 and the wing or paddle 38 turned in the mannerindicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the plates 23 and are slipped overthe nut-sections 21 previously disposed about said threadedshank-portion, said plates being secured in place by means of the bolt29 and its tightening nut 30, and said plates Cal 23 and 24 assuming thepositions indicated in' Fig. 5 of the drawings. The cam-lever or arm 37and wing or paddle 38 are now moved from the position represented insaid Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. 'Iheconsequent rotative movement of the left and right screwthreadedv studs35 and 36, as will be evident, will bring the two plates 23 and 24 intofirmly clamped relation with the nut-sections 21, whereby the sectionalnut is securely and immovably mounted in proper position of thescrew-threaded shank of the eye-bolt 15, as will be clearlyv evident. Inthis manner, the various eye-bolts 15 and other parts are fixed in theirassembled relations with the respective packings. The cables or chains18 attached to the eyes 17 of the respective bolts 15 are slung underthe keel, and the eye-bolts 14, to which the said cables or chains arealso attached, as has been previously stated, are put in place in therespective packings upon the other side of the ship-body, with thescrew-portions of said eye-bolts projecting from the respective bails 12used with said packings. The various devices and parts are thereuponsecured in their tightened relation by the screwing down upon the saidshankportions of the previously4 mentioned tightening nuts 19 againstthe washers 20. As an extra precaution to secure an extra taut relationof the cables or chains 18, wedges 47 may be driven between the keel andthe cable or chain, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

As soon as the ship-body is being` launched, and the wings or paddles 38in the position indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, strike the water,the counteractingforces of the water against the face of each wing orpaddle 37, will move the latter' from the position shown in said Fig. 3to that represented in Fig. 6, the consequent rotary action of the leftand right-threaded studs 35 and 36, loosening the plates 23 and 24 fromtheir binding and holding engagement with the nut sections 21, and theaction of the camprojection 39 withdrawing said plates entirely fromcontact with the nut-sections. The weight of each chain 18 will thuswithdraw each released eye-bolt from the bail and packing, so that thelatter will float out of the way of the ship-body, the various devicesand parts being retained againts loss by the various chains or cables41, 43 and 44, as will be fully understood.

Of course, I am aware that changes may be made in the generalarrangements and combinations of the various parts. as well as in thedetails of the construction of the said parts, without departing fromthe scope of the present invention as set forth in .the foregoingspecification, and as defined in the clauses of the claim which areappended to the said specification. Hence, Ido not limit my presentinvention to the exact arrangements and combinations ofthe severaldevices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do Iconfine myself to the exact details of the construction of the saidparts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings'.

l. In combination wit-h a pair of cradlepackings adapted to belocateduponropposite sides of La ship-body, aflexible connection betweenand detachably connected with said flexible connection for automaticallyreleasing said packings as the ship-body is launched.

2. In combination with a pair of cradlepackings adapted to be locatedupon oppo' ing provided withopenings, bolts disposed in said openings, aflexible connectionl between and connected with said bolts, each bolthaving a screw-threaded portion, a sectional nut mounted upon thescrew-threaded portion of one of said bolts, means coperatingl with saidsectional nut for securing the same in a fixed position upon saidscrewthreaded portion but adapted to automatically release saidsectional nut as the shipbody is launched, and a tightening nut upon thescrew-threaded portion of thel other bolt.

4. In combination with a pair of 'cradlepackings adapted tobelocated'upon opposite sides of a ship-body, said packingsvbeingprovided with openings, bolts disposed in said openings, a flexibleconnection between and connected with said bolts, each bolt having ascrew-threaded portion, a sectional nut mounted upon the screw-threadedportion of one of said bolts, means coperating with said sectional nutfor securing the same. in a fixed position upon said screwthreadedportion but adapted to automatically release said sectional nut as theshipbody is launched, said means consisting of a pair of clamping platesdisposed upon opposite sides of said sectional nut, a bolt and nut forsecuring said plates in such position,

lsaid packings, and means connected withl site sides of a ship-body,said packings bef carried b vin said openings, a flexibleconnectionbetWeen'and connected with said bolts, each bolt having ascrew-threaded portion, a sec` -tional nut `on one of said bolts, meanscoper- .ating with said sectional nut for securing the saine `in a fixedposition upon said screw- 3; .threaded portion but adapted toautomatically release said sectional nut as the shipf body is launched,said means consisting of a p air of clamping plates disposed uponopposite sides of said sectional nut, a bolt and nut .for-,securing saidplates in such position, .said plates having perfor-ations respectivelyj provided With left and right-hand screiv- 30.'

threads, 'a 'cam-lever having oppositely extending studs respectivelyprovided with left and right-hand screw-threads mounted -and Working insaid perforations, and a lWing carried by said cam-lever, and atighti-ening nut upon the screw-threaded portion ofk the other bolt.

6. lIn combination with a cradle-packing for ship-bodies, said packingbeing provided with a bolt-receiving opening. strong-backs ,mounted uponsaid packing, a bail disposed .upon said strongebacks, said bail havinga perforation, a bolt in the receiving opening lof lsaid packing andhaving a portion extending into and through the perforation in saidbail, means upon the projecting portion of said bolt for holding thesame in place,

and means for automatically releasing said bolt-holding means.

7. In combination With a cradlepacking for ship-bodies, said packingbeing provided with a bolt-receiving opening, strong-backs mounted uponsaid packing. or bail disposed upon said strong-backs, said bail havinga tional nut for securing the saine in a lixed perforation, a bolt inthe receiving opening lof -said packing and having a portion extendinginto and through the perforation in said bail, said projecting portionbeing screivthreaded, a sectional nut disposed upon said screw-threadedportion of the bolt, and means cooperating with said secposition uponthe screnhthreaded portion of the bolt, but adapted to automaticallyrelease said sectional nut,

upon said strong-backs, said bail having a perforation, a bolt in thereceiving opening of said packing and having a portion extending intoand through the perforation in said bail, said projecting portion beingscrew-threaded, a sectional nut disposedv upon said screw-threadedportion of the bolt, vand means coperating With said sectional nut forsecuring the same in a fixed position upon the screw-threaded portion ofthe bolt, but adapted to automatically re-rv lease said sectional nut,comprising a pair of clamping plates and means for clamping said platesin position upon the opposite sides of said sectional nut, and meansconnected With said plates for forcing said clamping plates out of theirclamped relation ivith said sectional nut.

9. In combination with a cradle-packing for ship-bodies, said packingbeing provided With a. bolt-receiving opening, strong-backs mounted uponsaid packing, a bail disposed upon said stroug-backs, said bail having aperforation, a bolt in the receiving opening of said packing and havinga portion extending into and through the perforation in said bail, saidprojecting portion being screw-threaded, a sectional nut disposed uponsaid screw-threaded portion of the bolt, and means coperating with saidsecn tional nut for securing the same in a fixedl position upon thescrew-threaded portion of the boltbut adapted to automatically releasesaid sectional nut, comprising a pair of clamping plates and means forclamping said plates in position upon the opposite sides of saidsectional nut, a lever pivotally connected with said clamping plates,and a cani-projection upon said lever adapted to engage said sectionalnut and to force said clamping plates out of their clamped relaf tionwith said sectional nut.

l0. In combination with a c adle-packiiig for ship-bodies, said packingbeing provided with a bolt-receiving opening, strong-backs n'iountedupon said packing. a bail disposed upon said strong-backs. said bailhaving a perforation. a bolt in the receiving opening of said packingand having a portion eX- tending into and through the perforation insaid bail, said projecting portion being screw-threaded, a sectional nutdisposed upon said screivtlireaded portion of the bolt. and meanscooperating with said sectional nut for securing the saine in a fixedposition upon the screw-threaded portion of the bolt. but adapted toautomatically release said sectional nut. said means consisting of apair of clamping plates disposed upon opposite .sides oi said sectionalnut, a

bolt and nut for securing said plates in posi- In testimony that I claimthe invention tion, said plates having perforations respeoset forthabove I have hereunto set my hand 10 tively provided with left andright-hand this 10th day of February, 1919. screw-threads a Cam-leverhaving oppositely extending studs respectively provided HARRY N JANSENwith left and right-hand screw-threads Witnesses:

mounted and Working in said perforations, FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL,

and a Wing carried by said cam-lever. WILLIAM A. DEAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G.

